Axle-box



KNIF (N0 M eL Patented Mar. 25, 18 90.

[N VE OR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER O. KNIPE, OF N ORRISTOWN PENNSYLVANIA.

AX L E B O X.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,317, dated March 25, 1890. Application filed October 29, 1889. Serial No.328,554. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER C. KNIFE, a citizen of' the United'States, residing at N orristown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axle-Boxes, 650.; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification;

a carriage-wheel with a bearing-surface which will enable the wheel to be applied to an old or new axle and assure a smooth fit.

Another object is to furnish ready adj ustment of the bearing-surface on any axle to which the invention may be applied, so as to insure a close-fitting relation between the two irrespective of the wear of the axle and consequent reduction of its diameter.

A further object isto provide an axle-box which may be placed around any journal, whether tapering or cylindrical, and will be capable of ready adjustment along the journal when the same becomes worn.

These objects are attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and fully described in this specification.

The features of novelty will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section a wheel-hub provided with my improvements and the co-operating axle. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the adjusting-washers or spacing pieces. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a bearing-surface consisting of a series of steel balls contained in a casin Fig. 4: is a perspective View of the box for the adjustable than the hub-bore.

bearing. Figs. 5 and 6 represent a modified form of my invention as applied to a cylindrical axle or journal, Fig. '5 being an elevation, with part broken away, of a crank-shaft ;'l

and Fig. (3, a longitudinal vertical section.

In practice great difiiculty is experienced in fitting a new wheel to an old axle. If the axle-boxes are made after a standard gage, the fit will be loose, because the axle has been reduced in diameter by wear. To make a neat fit, the box must be removed from the hub and provided with a spacing-ring. This is an expensive and tedious operation. In the case of an old wheel the same difiiculty is met with after extended use. Oarriage wheels are usually provided with tapering journals. Such a journal is shown in Fig. 1 at B.

In carrying out my invention I fix in the hub of the wheel two metal boxes 0 G and make them preferably of greater diameter These boxes may be of any desired shape in cross-section, though they are preferably made cylindrical, as shown. One such box extending through the hub might be used instead of two. Within the box 0 is placed a ball-casing H, which corresponds in cross-sectional shape to the box 0 and [its nicely within the same, so as to be capable of sliding longitudinally when being adjusted. In order to prevent wear of. the ball-casing by rotatory movement upon the box 0 when a cylindrical section is used, it is provided with a tongue or feathery, Fig. 3, which fits into a co-operating groove y in the box 0. One of the side flanges of the ball-casing is detachably secured, so that the balls may be put into the box or easing. (See Fig. 3.) The balls are of hard metal and of such a size and number as to fill the box circumferentially. By this construction the ballcasing may be removed from the hub by any novice and replaced when the bearing is being adjusted. When two boxes G are used,

the inner one should be made larger than the outer one and the ball-casing made correspondingly larger to fit the increased diame ter of the journal at the inner bearing-point. A series of spacing rings or Washers E are provided, sufficient in number to fill the boxes 0 0 when the bal'Lca-sings are in place. The

washers may be held in place by the rings D, or in any other suitable manner. The mode of adjustment will now be understood.

The confining-rings D are removed from the hub and the washers and ball-casings removed. The inner ball-casing is then spaced by means of the washers, so that the balls will bear upon the journal when the wheel is placed on its axle. The outer ball-casing is then spaced by means of its washers, so that its balls will all bear upon the outer end of the journal. It will thus be seen that the washers permit of a longitudinal adjustment of the ball-casing along the tapering journal until the balls bear upon said journal. The ballcasings are made of such a size that the bearing-surface will be near the outer end of the boxes 0 when the axle is new. When the axle wears, the casings may be shifted to a higher point of the inclined surface.

In lieu of the washers, a screw may be provided for adjusting the ball-easing, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, P representing the screw journaled in the ends of the box 0 and cooperating with the ball-casings WV. By turning the screw the casing may be shifted along the journal to the proper point. This construction admits of a greater delicacy of adjustment than the washers. In Figs. 5 and 6 this mode of adjustment is shown in connection with a cylindrical journal. It Will be understood, however, that it will be equally serviceable with a tapering journal. Both constructions are within the scope of myinvention and either may be used, as circumstances and cost may suggest. In these figures, L represents a crank-shaft, and S a revolving journal on one end of the same. One or more ball-casings WV, containing balls B, may be shifted to various points of contact. By removing the head M, which bears against the ring N, the box 0 may be removed. This structure is, however, not claimed herein, but will be made the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A journal box or hearing provided with a bearingsurface or line of support longitudinally adjustable within the same, so as to shift the line of support to different positions.

2. -A j ournal-bearing provided with a bearing-surface or line of support adjustable longitudinally of the journal.

3. A journal-bearing comprising a box surrounding the journal, a longitudinally-adjustable ball-casing within the box, and a series of balls within the casing bearing uponthe journal, whereby the line of support may be shifted to diiferent positions on the journal.

4. A journal-bearing comprising abox surrounding the journal, a bearing-surface Within the box of less width than the box, and means for adjusting the bearing-surface longitudinally of the journal to vary the surface of contact and wear.

5. A j ournal-bearing comprising a box surseries of spacing pieces or washers to maintain the bearing-surface in position when adjusted, whereby by transposing the washers the bearing may be shifted.

6. In a journal-bearing, the combination of a cylindrical box surrounding the journal, a longitudinally adjustable bearing for the journal fitting the box, and a tongue-andgroove connection between the box and bearing to prevent rotation of the latter.

7. The combination, with a tapering journal, of a longitudinally-adjustable bearing to shift the line of support to different positions on the journal to compensate for wear.

8. The combination, with a tapering journal, of a box surrounding the same, and a longitudinally-adjustable bearing-surface within the box to shift the line of support to different positions on the journal, for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with a tapering journal, of a hub containing longitudinally-adjustable bearings in each end, whereby a closeiitting relation of the journal and its bearing 

